Method of preparing dry thionyl chloride electrolyte

Abstract

Thionyl chloride electrolyte having less than about 1 ppm water contamination is prepared by mixing dry thionyl chloride solvent with sulfuryl chloride electrolyte having less than about 1 ppm water contamination and then removing the sulfuryl chloride.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of preparing thionyl chloride electrolyte having less than 1 ppm water contamination which comprises: a. Mixing dry thionyl chloride solvent with sulfuryl chloride electrolyte which has a solute therein suitable for preparation of lithium batteries, and which electrolyte has less than about 1 ppm of water contamination therein,   b. Removing the sulfuryl chloride.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the removing step comprises distilling off the sulfuryl chloride. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the solute suitable for preparation of an electro-chemical cell is selected from the group consisting of lithium hexachloroantimonate, and lithium tetrachloroaluminate. 
     
     
       4. A method of preparing thionyl chloride-lithium tetrachloroaluminate for use in an electrochemical cell electrolyte which comprises: a. Preparing a sulfuryl chloride-lithium tetrachloroaluminate electrolyte with less than 1 ppm water combination,   b. Adding dry thionyl chloride solvent to said electrolyte,   c. Distilling off the sulfuryl chloride,   d. Reconstituting the thionyl chloride-lithium tetrachloroaluminate electrolyte by adding additional dry thionyl chloride thereto.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein the sulfurylchloride-lithium tetrachloroaluminate electrolyte with less than 1 ppm water contamination is substituted for by sulfurylchloride-lithium hexachloroantimonate electrolyte with less than 1 ppm water contamination.